IllustrationWHILE DRIVING, UNDER THE HOOD COMPARTMENT FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FROM THE BATTERY. *AK
1988 Ford Ranger
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Ford Ranger do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 144.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Ranger years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 89 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports23 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
89 reportsARRIVED HOME, PARKED VEHICLE AND WENT INSIDE OF HOME, NOTICED ABOUT 5 MINS LATER SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD, WITHIN MINS FIRE ENGULFED VEHICLE. *AK
TIRES REPLACED. *SD
EXPERIENCING SHORTS IN IGNITION, HAVE TO JIGGLE TO MAKE IT OPERATE PROPERLY. *AK
AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION IS CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO GO DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
OWNER QUOTES: TRUCK STARTED ON ITS OWN, BACKED UP INTO ANOTHER CAR AND BURST INTO FLAMES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH SEPARATED INTO 2 PARTS, CAUSING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES FAILING. *DSH
THE STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH, NO FIRE. *AK
THE WIRES IN THE CAR ARE BURNING AND THERE IS A BURNING SMELL PRESENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
187V141000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components
Sep 4, 1987
TRUCKS WERE BUILT WITH INCORRECT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A TENDENCY FOR REAR BRAKE LOCKUP WOULD EXIST PARTICULARLY DURING HEAVY BRAKE APPLICAION WITH A LIGHTLY LOADED TRUCK. ALSO, INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED IF THE BRAKE MODULATION (PUMPING THE BRAKES) IS USED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE DURING A HARD BRAKE STOP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2PE92029 · Whl Separation/torque Loss
Opened Mar 16, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available